Bill Wright
Director
Mastermind (1972)
2007/08
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness. Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the contestant's choice, the other a general knowledge round. Wright drew inspiration from his experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II. The atmosphere is helped by Mastermind's famously ominous theme music, "Approaching Menace" by the British composer Neil Richardson. The quiz programme originated and was recorded in Manchester at studios such as New Broadcasting House and Granada Studios, before permanently moving to MediaCityUK in 2011.
Released Sept. 11, 1972
Episode 30 min
None+
Genres: Game Show, Talk, Talk Show
Keywords: tmdb.quiz, imdb.quiz-show, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.general-knowledge, imdb.contestant, imdb.famous-opening-theme, imdb.long-running-tv + 12 more, imdb.one-word-title, imdb.spotlight, imdb.chair, imdb.question, imdb.non-fiction, tmdb.knowledge, imdb.game-show-host, imdb.1970s, imdb.1980s, imdb.1990s, imdb.british, imdb.quiz
Production Companies: Hat Trick Productions, Hindsight Productions
Network: BBC Two
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S34E1 - Episode 1
Four contestants answer questions on the famous black chair. Tonight's specialised subjects include Tottenham Hotspur FC, The Alan Clark Diaries, the electric guitar and the medieval abbeys and priories of England. With John Humphrys.
July 9, 2007, midnight
S34E2 - Episode 2
John Humphrys poses questions on French political history from 1815-1914, composer Gustav Holst, Harrison Ford films and Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis.
July 16, 2007, midnight
S34E3 - Episode 3
John Humphrys poses questions on mountaineer Chris Bonington , Thomas Harris 's Hannibal Lecter novels, Kett's Rebellion and the life and music of Tom Lehrer.
July 23, 2007, midnight
S34E4 - Episode 4
John Humphrys poses testing questions on Peter Cook , Claude Monet , Errol Flynn and Edward VI.
July 30, 2007, midnight
S34E5 - Episode 5
Subjects include the first duke of Wellington, Stephen King novels, Johannes Kepler and The West Wing.
Aug. 6, 2007, midnight
S34E6 - Episode 6
Tonight's specialised subjects include Henry Ford, German wines, Jennifer Aniston and Frida Kahlo.
Aug. 13, 2007, midnight
S34E7 - Episode 7
Subjects include the battle of Gettysburg, Mario Lanza , Dante's Divine Comedy and Sir Edwin Lutyens
Aug. 20, 2007, midnight
S34E8 - Episode 8
Tonight's specialist subjects are The Royle Family the life and music of Dimitri Tiomkin ; RF Delderfield's Swann novels and the life of Richard Nixon.
Aug. 27, 2007, midnight
S34E9 - Episode 9
Tonight's specialised subjects are Peter Gabriel and Genesis, author David Eddings , inventor Barnes Wallis and snakes. With John Humphrys.
Sept. 3, 2007, midnight
S34E10 - Episode 10
The specialist subjects this week are the University Boat Race, the novels of Evelyn Waugh , English coronations since 1066 and the life of Bob Marley.
Sept. 10, 2007, midnight
S34E11 - Episode 11
This week's subjects are the life and work of William Thomson , Round the Home, the history of Tamla Motown and the career of chess player Alexander Alekhine.
Sept. 17, 2007, midnight
S34E12 - Episode 12
Specialist subjects this week include the life and career of Frank Sinatra , Dorothy L Sayers 's Lord Peter Wimsey books and Polish history between AD 960 and 1696.
Sept. 24, 2007, midnight
S34E13 - Episode 13
Tonight's specialist subjects are British Top 20 singles of the 1970s, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith , Hornby Railway and Joe Jackson and the Black Sox scandal of 1919.
Oct. 1, 2007, midnight
S34E14 - Episode 14
Specialist subjects include Irish history 1916-1923, heavy metal band Iron Maiden, life and works of John Piper and the world war series of novels by Harry Turtledove.
Oct. 8, 2007, midnight
S34E15 - Episode 15
This week's specialist subjects are the life and work of Joe Orton , American independent cinema, trees of the British Isles and Chelsea Football Club.
Oct. 22, 2007, midnight
S34E16 - Episode 16
This week's specialist subjects are the life and work of Joe Orton, American independent cinema, trees of the British Isles and Chelsea Football Club.
Oct. 29, 2007, midnight
S34E17 - Episode 17
Tonight's specialist subjects are the naval career of Nelson and Collingwood, the life and works of Primo Levi, the English pop band Erasure, and the life and career of Sir Richard Attenborough.
Nov. 5, 2007, midnight
S34E18 - Episode 18
Tonight's subjects are the life and music of Johnny Cash, the development of photography since 1900, the life and works of Rene Magritte and ships of the Royal Navy from 1945 to 2007.
Nov. 12, 2007, midnight
S34E19 - Episode 19
Specialist subjects are the life and career of politician Charles James Fox, the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association, real ale breweries of Britain and the life and works of writer Marcel Proust.
Nov. 19, 2007, midnight
S34E20 - Episode 20
Tonight's subjects are the Adrian Mole novels by Sue Townsend, the works of French playwright Moliere, the history of sound recording from 1887 to 1925 and European female painters up until 1900.
Nov. 26, 2007, midnight
S34E21 - Episode 21
Specialist subjects are the Anglo-Boer War, US soul group the Temptations, the Cotton Nero manuscript and Scottish monarchs from 843 to 1371.
Dec. 3, 2007, midnight
S34E22 - Episode 22
As the contest reaches the semi-finals, specialist subjects are British butterflies, the life of Franz Kafka , 1985 TV drama Edge of Darkness and Red Clydeside 1914-1939, an era of political radicalism in Glasgow.
Jan. 21, 2008, midnight
S34E23 - Episode 23
Contestants compete for a place in the Grand Final. Today's specialist subjects are: the novels of Joanne Harris , the Cricket World Cup, the life of Mary Tudor and the life and career of Robert Clive - also known as Clive of India. John Humphrys hosts.
Jan. 28, 2008, midnight
S34E24 - Episode 24
In the final first-round heat, the specialist subjects are Punch magazine, the life of Kurt Cobain , the novels of Thomas Love Peacock , and TV series Survivors.
Feb. 4, 2008, midnight
S34E25 - Episode 25
As the competition reaches the semi-final stage, specialist subjects are British butterflies, the life and work of writer Franz Kafka , cult 1985 TV drama Edge of Darkness and Red Clydeside 1914-1939, an era of political radicalism in Glasgow. With John Humphrys.
Feb. 11, 2008, midnight
S34E26 - Episode 26
With another place in the final up for grabs, tonight's specialist subjects are the novels of Joanne Harris , the Cricket World Cup, Mary Tudor and the life of Robert Clive - aka Clive of India.
Feb. 18, 2008, midnight
S34E27 - Episode 27
Specialist subjects are the life and career of Bobby Charlton , the Roman Republic to 43 BC, the life and poetry of Wilfrid Owen and the spoof TV programme The Day Today. John Humphrys asks the questions.
Feb. 25, 2008, midnight
S34E28 - Episode 28
With another place in the final up for grabs, specialist subjects comprise the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs, the life and work of Italian painter Botticelli, folk/rock group Steeleye Span , and film director Sam Peckinpah. Hosted by John Humphrys.
March 3, 2008, midnight
S34E29 - Episode 29
Specialist subjects in this semi-final are the novels of Jasper Fforde , the horror films of Val Lewton , the Battle of the Somme and the life of the Prince Regent.
March 10, 2008, midnight
S34E30 - Episode 30
Specialist subjects in the last semi-final are the Barsetshire novels of Anthony Trollope ; Mary, Queen of Scots: American Civil War general William Sherman ; and the Poldark novels of Winston Graham.
March 17, 2008, midnight
S34E31 - Grand Final
The grand final of the quiz where specialist subjects are the history of Venice, actor Steve McQueen, the D-Day landings, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, London Bridge and the Godfather trilogy. With John Humphrys.
March 24, 2008, midnight
Network: BBC Two
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 33810 min.
Released: Sept. 11, 1972
Last Air Date: Nov. 24, 2025, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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